Heidi Bunch The Mineral County Airport Land Use Advisory Board is expected to finalize a lease next week for the abandoned Hawthorne Centennial Racetrack. The last lease on record for the property was with the Western Nevada Dirt Track Racing Association in 1991.

Heidi Bunch
The Mineral County Airport Land Use Advisory Board is expected to finalize a lease next week for the abandoned Hawthorne Centennial Racetrack. The last lease on record for the property was with the Western Nevada Dirt Track Racing Association in 1991.

The abandoned Hawthorne Centennial Racetrack may no longer sit dormant if Scott Moderson has his way.

Meeting with the Mineral County Airport Land Use Advisory Board (Airport Board) via telephone, the board and Moderson discussed the lease with the Airport Board.

Mike Trujillo, Mineral County Public Works Director, stated that he had done a walk-thru with Moderson to discuss areas of concern, which must be cleaned up.

“We want this on the lease so we can show people what Scott is going to do and his timeline,” Trujillo told the board.

“There is some progression getting done and Scott has some accountability that he has to do within three years or five years. Scott and I met with the DA. We sent a letter to John Rupert [former tenant]. Rupert would just like to remove his personal belongings from the property. The DA is okay with that.”

In speaking with the district attorney and Armstrong [consultants for the airport] it was made mentioned that Moderson receive a break in his lease due to the clean up needed.

Trujillo said that he has spoken to Moderson regarding lighting at the property and the lights that were removed from the little league field can be used at the racetrack.

Discussion was made regarding former leases of the property and Trujillo informed the board that he has been unable to find a signed lease since 1991.

“The last lease was Western Nevada Dirt Track Racing Association with Greg Coppola as president and Beth Cichowlaz as secretary in 1991. As far as Sean [Rowe, District Attorney] is concerned, the property has been abandoned,” Trujillo told the board.

“Once Scott signs that lease, any property that is left on the property will belong to him,” Larry Grant, board member said. “Unless otherwise identified.”

The final lease will go through the Airport Board with a recommendation to the county commissioners.

Grant told the board and Moderson, “I feel that we should do this as a no cost lease to you on the condition that you clean that place up. That will be your payment to us for the lease.”

The board explained that Moderson could terminate the lease at any time with 30 days notice, as can the county.

Moderson and the board will meet on Sept. 9 to finalize the lease with final approval from the County Commissioners on Sept. 16.

“It looks like we are moving forward,” Moderson said.